I went home and showered, did my hair and make-up. One my way out I fed Rex a couple of Fruit Loops. Tomorrow morning, I would bank my check, then I was grocery shopping.
As usual, Ranger was already waiting for me when I arrived. "Yo, Babe," Ranger said as I slid into the booth across from him.
"So, how'd the talk with Morelli go?" he asked.
"How did you – No, never mind." I paused. "I don't want to talk about it."
He stared at me with those eyes that make anyone do exactly what he wants.
"I think Morelli wants to kill you."
Ranger didn't say anything. He did another one of his Ranger-smiles. I don't think death threats worry him.
"Babe, I need you to do some work for me."
I had done work for Ranger in the past. It didn't go well. I'm not very competent at anything that involves a criminal.
"It's nothing too tough. All you have to do is sit in front of a house and watch it for me."
"I can do that." I sounded far too eager.
"Good. All the details are here," he said, handing a folder over. "The man you're after is Pietro Romano. Also known at Romano the Ruthless. He missed his date with the judge last week."
"What's he wanted for?"
"Armed robbery." He paused. "And murder."
He just had to add the murder, didn't he? "Isn't he in the Mafia?"
Ranger nodded.
"As in the 'I know nothing, I didn't see anything, I wasn't there, and if I was there, I was asleep' kind of Mafia?"
He nodded again.
He wanted me to stake out a mob-man's house! I was getting a little hysterical. "Why can't you or Tank do it?"
"We're going to Florida."
"Why?"
Very rarely does Ranger give an answer more than two syllables in response to a personal question. He's a man of mystery. "My daughter's been kidnapped."
I was so surprised at this that he was gone before I could ask him anything else.
It was eleven thirty. I was cold. My legs had gone to sleep. To top it off, I was out of donuts. My theory is that if I do a form of exercise a day, I can afford to eat some donuts. Considering the speed I ran out of Taylor's house, I think that can count.
Romano's house was dark. I'd been here since seven thirty and I hadn't seen anyone go in or out. Of course, it isn't all that difficult to get by me.
I was considering listening with my eyes shut when I heard someone try the handle of the passenger door. Morelli.
"What is it now?" I snapped at him. Did I mention I was tired?
He didn't say anything. He just kissed me. His hands immediately went for the zipper of my jeans.
My phone rang on the dashboard. I pulled my hand from out of his hair and reached for it. I was just about to press the little green phone, when Morelli decided to press the red one.
I glared at him for a second before his lips touched mine again.
The phone rang again. This time, I managed to beat Morelli to it.
"Hello?" My voice was passion-filled. I just hoped it wasn't my mother.
"Yo, Babe. I'm about to board. How it's going?" Ranger.
"It's fine. The house is still dark. No one's come in. Really quite boring. But it's okay because Joe's here with me." Mental head thunk. I really couldn't believe I just said that!
"I'm glad you two decided to work it out," he said in a distant voice.
"Ranger?"
Silence. I had to say something nice back to him. What?
"I hope it all goes well."
There was silence again. I was sure he was smiling at the other end. "Thanks, Babe. Later."
He hung up.
"Ranger?" Morelli asked. He was jealous! Oh, it made my day.
"Yeah. He just wanted to see how I was."
I went back to Morelli's house and we talked until about three in the morning. The conversation went around in circles for a couple of hours. Morelli wanted sex and a wife who didn't go around getting shot at. I wanted sex and the right to get shot at. I really didn't want to get shot at; it's just the principle.
Joe was gone when I woke up at about nine o'clock, but there was a note on his pillow.
I finish at twelve. Call me and we'll catch up for lunch.
I padded downstairs, grabbed Joe's phone and rang him while I perused the contents of his fridge. His cell phone was turned off and he didn't answer his desk phone. So I left a message which basically said "I'll see you at twelve-thirty at Pino's. Let me know if it's no good." I paused for a little while. "I love you."
I hung up and banged my head against the fridge. I could not believe I just told him I love him. I wasn't even sure if I really did. What the fuck was I thinking?
I arrived at Pino's a few minutes early. Of course, Morelli was already there. I slid into the booth next to him. He grabbed the collar of my jacket and kissed me.
I was pretty surprised. Surprised in a good way. A girl could get used to these kisses. I could hear Morelli laughing. I opened my eyes and saw all of his cop friends clapping and whistling. The shift had just finished.
My face was going red. So, to give myself something to do, I took a sip of his beer. It didn't really help.
"So, did you call me for a reason, or did you just want to kiss me senseless?"
He gave me one of those looks. "I'd prefer to screw you senseless."
I rolled my eyes. The pizza arrived and we ate in comfortable silence. Joe was being really sweet. I had no idea why. He even let me have the last slice of pizza and he didn't give me a hard time.
"Do you need me to pick up anything from your apartment?"
He was up to something, but I didn't know what. I shook my head.
"I'll see you later, Cupcake," he said as he kissed me goodbye.
"Where are you going?"
"My mother's."
Mrs Morelli was the most formidable woman in the Burg. You didn't want to get on her wrong side. Joe's whole family scared the shit out of me.
I was just getting into my CR-V when my phone rang. I whipped it out, and before I even spoke I heard an "Is it true?"
Mom.
"Is what true?" I asked. It's always better to feign ignorance. I've found it's safer that way.
"You're living with Joseph. Please tell me you're married."
It only took an hour and a half for the news to make its way through the Burg grapevine, straight to my mother. It had to be a new record.
"No, I'm not married." I imagined my mother doing a sign of the cross. "Joe and I are just sorting a few things out."
"You're engaged?" my mother screamed, obviously delighted.
For the first time in my life, I had done something right. Usually, it was my sister Valerie who was the perfect one. I was the black sheep of the family. It actually felt nice to be the perfect daughter for a change. Mom was so happy I couldn't tell her the truth.
"Why don't you and Joseph come over for dinner tonight? I was thinking of making pineapple upside-down cake."
She was pulling out the big guns. Pineapple upside-down cake is my favourite dessert.
"Joe and I have plans for tonight. Could we reschedule to tomorrow?" I heard the sound of china breaking in the background.
Fine, if Mom was bringing out the big guns, then so was I! "Can I call you back in a few minutes?" I hung up before she could respond.
I made my way to the office as quickly as possible without causing any damage.
"Hey," Connie said with a smile. "I hear you're back with Morelli."
"Had any late night encounters?" Lula asked.
I did a mental eye roll. "Yes and no. In answer to your other questions, no I am not engaged to him, there hasn't been any form of sex, so there will be no details and Ranger is away."
"How did you know I was going to ask all of that?" Lula asked in awe.
"What's up, Stepho?" Vinnie asked as he strutted out of his office.
"My mother just called me. Speaking of which, can I borrow your office for a few minutes?"
"What for?"
"I need to make a phone call."
"Ranger!" Lula sighed.
"Morelli!" Connie cried at the same time as Lula.
"No, my mother," I said as I stalked into Vinnie's office and slammed the door.
I dialled the number and Grandma Mazur picked up on the third ring.
Grandma moved in with my parents when my grandfather moved on. I think the only reason she's stayed with them is because she likes to see my father suffer.
"Henrietta Rodriguez told me that she saw you leave Joseph's house this morning. She said the lights were still on at two o'clock in the morning."
"Joe and I were talking." Even though it was the truth, it sounded pathetic. "Is Mom there?"
Grandma handed the phone to my mother. I knew she was going to start a long-winded lecture, so I decided to get in first.
"How do you make stuffed cabbages?"
"Why do you want to know? Are you planning on making them for Joseph?"
"Yes."
My mother screamed.
I hung up a few minutes later with the recipe in my pocket. There was a small stack of FTAs on Connie's desk. I flicked through the pile and picked the easiest out.
Jennifer Scott was wanted for shoplifting Calvin Klein jeans from Macy's. If you ask me, she was smart. No one in their right mind would pay full price for CK jeans.
Richard Edwards had bailed out after setting fire to a police cruiser, right outside the station. I'm not sure why I decided on the pyromaniac. It was either a pyro or a serial killer.